Spartanburg native White to tee it up at Walker Cup

Published: Friday, September 6, 2013 at 7:22 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, September 6, 2013 at 7:22 p.m.

Todd White has already enjoyed the experience of a lifetime, and the competition he's aspired to for years doesn't begin until today.

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Spartanburg native Todd White is the eighth player with South Carolina roots to be selected for the U.S. Walker Cup team. Five of the previous six — Jonathan Byrd, Lucas Glover, Bill Haas, Dustin Johnson and D.J. Trahan — have combined to win 22 PGA Tour events and more than $79 million.

The Spartanburg native and former Dorman player, who spent 12 years as a teacher and assistant football coach at his alma-mater, has been in New York this past week with his nine Walker Cup teammates preparaing for the match-play style format taking place over two days at National Golf Links of America in Southampton. The U.S. faces a team from Great Britain and Ireland in the 44th edition of the event, which takes place every two years.

"The experience has far exceeded anything I could've expected or hoped for," said White, now a history teacher at Hilton Head High School, in a phone interview.

"The Walker Cup is the pinnacle of amateur golf and it's something every amateur who plays at a high level should strive for. It's about the opportunity to represent your country and the chance for one of the few times to play a team concept in golf. It's been a goal of mine because of the time I've invested in the game. And trust me, all the time, effort and energy has been well worth it with the experience I'm having, and the matches haven't even started yet."

The Walker Cup has included a long list of legendary players since its inception, the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Bobby Jones was a member of the very first competition that was played at the current venue, where the Cup is returning for the first time since its inaugural 1922 tee-off.

White is the eighth participant with South Carolina roots and first non-collegiate player. He joins Jack Lewis (1969), Jonathan Byrd (1999), Lucas Glover and D.J. Trahan (2001), Bill Haas and Matt Hendrix (2003) and Dustin Johnson (2007). Five of those last six, minus Hendrix, all are currently on the PGA Tour and have combined to win 22 career tournaments and more than $79 million.

Each team has 10 members chosen by a team captain and a selection committee based on their amateur resumes. The U.S. team adopted a new rule this season to add two "mid-amateurs" to the usual roster of college stars. Nathan Smith, a 35-year-old from Pittsburgh playing in his third consecutive Walker Cup, joins the 45-year-old White as the lone players on the U.S. squad over the age of 22.

White doesn't feel like an elder statesman among the bevy of youthful talent that includes three current players from California-Berkeley and three from the University of Alabama.

"Perhaps I have a little bit of a greater understanding, a little more appreciation right now because of my age, but in listening to my teammates all of them understand what the Walker Cup is about and what it means to be able to put on the red, white and blue," White said.

"A lot of people may look at the age difference and think there's a huge social interaction difference, but in actuality there is not. Nathan and myself see all these college players during the big summer amateur events and we've been in social settings before and competed with them, so it's nothing to us or to them. I think that's really helped this team bond the way it has."

White has competed in 11 U.S. Golf Association Championships during his career, including four U.S. Amateurs and one U.S. Open, and is a three-time S.C. Golf Association Player of the Year (2004, 2010 and 2012). He also is a member of the Furman Athletics Hall of Fame.

He has strived for much of his amateur career to be chosen for the Walker Cup and first knew he was heavily on that radar when he was among a select group invited to a meet-and-greet in December. He received official word early last month.

"It was a little bit of a surreal moment and two thoughts flashed through my mind," White said. "One was all the hard work and all the sacrifices and time dedicated to this had been well worth it. And the second thought, that came even quicker, was that now it's time to get ready to represent my country and it's not about me."

White and his teammates were given a private tour of Ground Zero and the Freedom Tower in New York City and also were special guests at the U.S. Open Tennis Championship earlier this week. There has been abundant practice time by day and social functions in the evening. Former President George W. Bush stopped by the squad's Thursday practice.

"This is almost a walking classroom today," White told Newsday. "What an incredible experience to play with President Bush. It's something few people have the opportunity to do."

White is hoping to bring back many of his memories to be incorporated into future lesson plans in his history classes and isn't taking even one moment of his trip for granted.

"I'm going to take in all these experiences and enjoy every moment of every function, and then once the golf starts it's going to be all business," White said. "I'm here to represent my country and hopefully help win a Walker Cup for this team. These memories will carry on forever and I'm hoping this won't be my only Walker Cup experience."

<p>Todd White has already enjoyed the experience of a lifetime, and the competition he's aspired to for years doesn't begin until today.</p><p>The Spartanburg native and former Dorman player, who spent 12 years as a teacher and assistant football coach at his alma-mater, has been in New York this past week with his nine Walker Cup teammates preparaing for the match-play style format taking place over two days at National Golf Links of America in Southampton. The U.S. faces a team from Great Britain and Ireland in the 44th edition of the event, which takes place every two years.</p><p>"The experience has far exceeded anything I could've expected or hoped for," said White, now a history teacher at Hilton Head High School, in a phone interview.</p><p>"The Walker Cup is the pinnacle of amateur golf and it's something every amateur who plays at a high level should strive for. It's about the opportunity to represent your country and the chance for one of the few times to play a team concept in golf. It's been a goal of mine because of the time I've invested in the game. And trust me, all the time, effort and energy has been well worth it with the experience I'm having, and the matches haven't even started yet."</p><p>The Walker Cup has included a long list of legendary players since its inception, the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Bobby Jones was a member of the very first competition that was played at the current venue, where the Cup is returning for the first time since its inaugural 1922 tee-off.</p><p>White is the eighth participant with South Carolina roots and first non-collegiate player. He joins Jack Lewis (1969), Jonathan Byrd (1999), Lucas Glover and D.J. Trahan (2001), Bill Haas and Matt Hendrix (2003) and Dustin Johnson (2007). Five of those last six, minus Hendrix, all are currently on the PGA Tour and have combined to win 22 career tournaments and more than $79 million.</p><p>Each team has 10 members chosen by a team captain and a selection committee based on their amateur resumes. The U.S. team adopted a new rule this season to add two "mid-amateurs" to the usual roster of college stars. Nathan Smith, a 35-year-old from Pittsburgh playing in his third consecutive Walker Cup, joins the 45-year-old White as the lone players on the U.S. squad over the age of 22.</p><p>White doesn't feel like an elder statesman among the bevy of youthful talent that includes three current players from California-Berkeley and three from the University of Alabama.</p><p>"Perhaps I have a little bit of a greater understanding, a little more appreciation right now because of my age, but in listening to my teammates all of them understand what the Walker Cup is about and what it means to be able to put on the red, white and blue," White said.</p><p>"A lot of people may look at the age difference and think there's a huge social interaction difference, but in actuality there is not. Nathan and myself see all these college players during the big summer amateur events and we've been in social settings before and competed with them, so it's nothing to us or to them. I think that's really helped this team bond the way it has."</p><p>White has competed in 11 U.S. Golf Association Championships during his career, including four U.S. Amateurs and one U.S. Open, and is a three-time S.C. Golf Association Player of the Year (2004, 2010 and 2012). He also is a member of the Furman Athletics Hall of Fame.</p><p>He has strived for much of his amateur career to be chosen for the Walker Cup and first knew he was heavily on that radar when he was among a select group invited to a meet-and-greet in December. He received official word early last month.</p><p>"It was a little bit of a surreal moment and two thoughts flashed through my mind," White said. "One was all the hard work and all the sacrifices and time dedicated to this had been well worth it. And the second thought, that came even quicker, was that now it's time to get ready to represent my country and it's not about me."</p><p>White and his teammates were given a private tour of Ground Zero and the Freedom Tower in New York City and also were special guests at the U.S. Open Tennis Championship earlier this week. There has been abundant practice time by day and social functions in the evening. Former President George W. Bush stopped by the squad's Thursday practice.</p><p>"This is almost a walking classroom today," White told Newsday. "What an incredible experience to play with President Bush. It's something few people have the opportunity to do."</p><p>White is hoping to bring back many of his memories to be incorporated into future lesson plans in his history classes and isn't taking even one moment of his trip for granted.</p><p>"I'm going to take in all these experiences and enjoy every moment of every function, and then once the golf starts it's going to be all business," White said. "I'm here to represent my country and hopefully help win a Walker Cup for this team. These memories will carry on forever and I'm hoping this won't be my only Walker Cup experience."</p>